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| Date: | Monday 27 February 1939 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Bristol Blenheim Mk I |
| Owner/operator: | 114 Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | L1099 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | near RAF Wyton, Huntingdonshire, England -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Wyton, Huntingdonshire |
Blenheim L1099: Shortly after takeoff from RAF Wyton, the airplane suffered an engine failure. 27/02/1939
It lost height, impacted trees and crashed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Wilfred Maurice LUPTON (pilot) RAF - killed
Sgt (366023) Charles Maurice BELSHAN (obs.) RAF - killed
AC1 (518983) George Noll HOPLEY (WOp/AG) RAF - killed
According to the official Air Ministry announcement in "Flight" magazine (March 9. 1939 page 255 - see link #6):
"FLYING ACCIDENTS
THE Air Ministry regrets to announce the following accident: —
F/O Wilfred Maurice Lupton (pilot), Sgt. Charles Morris Belshan, and A/C.1 George Noll Hopley lost their lives in an accident which occurred at Wyton, Huntingdonshire, on February 27, to an aircraft of No. 114 (Bomber) Squadron."
According to a contemporary newspaper article (Dundee Courier Angus, Scotland 28 February 1939):
THREE LOSE LIVES IN BOMBER BLAZE
RESCUERS AT BAY
Three men lost their lives when an R.A.F. machine of No. 114 Bomber Squadron crashed and burst into flames yesterday at Wyton, Huntingdonshire. They were: Flying-Officer Wilfred Maurice Lupton, the pilot; Sergt. Charles Maurice Belshan"
Sources:
1. Air-Britain Royal Air Force Aircraft L1000-N9999 (James J. Halley, Air Britain, 1983)
2. The Bristol Blenheim (Warner)
3. http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1939.htm
4. http://aircrewremembered.com/blenheim-test.html
5. https://www.genesreunited.co.uk/searchbna/results?memberlastsubclass=none&searchhistorykey=0&keywords=wilfred%20machin&county=angus%2C%20scotland&from=1930&to=1939
6. https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1939/1939%20-%200717.PDF
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Aug-2013 07:02 | JINX | Added |
| 10-Oct-2013 06:05 | JINX | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, ] |
| 14-Nov-2013 09:18 | Nepa | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Location, ] |
| 17-Nov-2013 05:21 | JINX | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Location, ] |
| 18-Dec-2013 18:18 | Nepa | Updated [Operator, Location, ] |
| 15-Dec-2014 10:41 | Unites | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Departure airport, Narrative, ] |
| 05-Jan-2016 05:15 | JINX | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Narrative, ] |
| 07-Jan-2016 20:23 | Apen | Updated [Operator, ] |
| 11-Feb-2016 17:57 | MrBean1941 | Updated [Source, Narrative, ] |
| 26-Jan-2018 21:27 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 26-Jan-2018 21:28 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Narrative, ] |
| 24-Mar-2018 22:13 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 26-Sep-2018 09:27 | Nepa | Updated [Operator, Narrative, Operator, ] |
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